It offered an online platform allowing managers to monitor their workers’ job satisfaction, and letting employees give weekly feedback on their wellbeing.

A $US1 million seed funding round for the startup was led by Harper himself.

“I had initially planned to raise a seed round from external investors but after seeing the traction during our preview release and hearing the impact PeopleSpark was having at those companies, I decided to go ‘all in’ and lead our seed round,” Harper said at the time.

“I believe in the product and wanted to put my money where my mouth is.”

According to Harper, PeopleSpark was used by a “few hundred” companies in Australia and the US at the end of last year.

Denham Sadler is the editor of StartupSmart. He was previously a journalist at the publication and has worked as a freelancer for the Guardian, the Saturday Paper and the ABC. In his spare time he likes puns and jaffles.

Since 2010 StartupSmart has been Australia’s no.1 publication for the startup community and those interested in the startup movement globally. Publishing news, information and advice daily, and placing itself squarely at the centre of the government’s national innovation agenda, StartupSmart is a leading participant in the momentum that surrounds the world’s focus on technology, creativity and entrepreneurialism.